Height gauge



April 9, 1940. I A. sPALEK Er AL HEIGHT GAUGE Original Filed Feb. 16, 1939 ffy 11.

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9 Mci. ATTORNEYS- Patented Apr. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES HEIGHT GAUGE` l Adolph Spalek and William J. Zrenchik, Detroit,

Mich., assignors to Spalek Engineering Company, Detroit, Mich., a partnership composed 4of Adolphspalek and William J. Zrenchik 'Original application February 16, 1939, Serial No. 256,785. 1 Divided and this application IJune V21'7,

1939, Serial No. 281,442

9 claims. (o1. 33-1695 This application is a division of co-p'ending application of Adolph Spalek and William J. Zrenchik, Serial No. 256,785, led February 16, 1939.

The present invention relates to a height gauge construction and particularly relates to such a construction adapted-to be used with apparatus for supporting models, stampings, castings, blue prints,1and/or the like in tilted positions for the purpose of making projected layouts, developing templets, laying out and checking models, stamp-v ings, or machine surfaces, and for other purposes which will become apparent from the complete description in the co-pending application referred to above.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide an apparatus capable of a variety of uses by which considerable time and money may be saved in the drafting room, model room, and machine shop.

y Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus by which the above-mentioned work may be accurately and reliably accomplished in a comparatively short time by comparatively unskilled and inexperienced workmen. ,1

Another object of the invention is to provide an ,-apparatusof the type mentioned above used for projecting. points for templets and making developed layouts in which the prior laborious process of using the theory of descriptive geometry by projecting the views in engineering drawings into different planes is dispensed with, thereby providing a less expensive way to perform this work.

Another object of the invention is to provide` an improved height gauge which is stable yet which may be readily moved over a supporting surface. 1

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved height gauge bythe use of which projections may be quickly and directly made.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved vheight gauge by which points laterally inset from portions of an article may be Figure 1 is a top plan view of the gaugeco'nstruction; f 1 1 Fig. 2 isa side elevational view of the vstructure showninFig. 1; 1' 1 Fig. 3 is afront elevational view of the struc- 5" ture shown in Fig. 1; A, 1

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the top'of the gauge shown in Fig. 1, having an attachment thereon; 1 1 1 1 f Fig. 5 is a side elevational view ofthe structure shown in Fig. 4; l 1' 1 Fig. 6 is an end elevational View of the structure shown in Fig. 5; 1

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view'taken 1. substantiallyalong the line 'l--l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary sideelevational view of the top of the height gauge1illusH trating certain details of construction;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary top plan View showing certain details of the bottom scale and the manner in which it is mounted; f

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary plan View taken substantially along the line l-I 0 of Fig. 5 ;H

Fig. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view takand Fig. 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary plan view taken substantially along the line l2|2 of Fig. 2.

In the parent application referred to, an apparatus as disclosed and claimed'is capable of a variety of uses which will be pointed out herein-- after. The apparatus is particularly adapted for use in the `drafting room for the purpose of makingrprojected layouts from models, stampings, castings, blueprints and/or the like. 5

For making developed layouts it has been -th practice to use engineering drawings in which the views are projected into different planes by the theory of descriptive geometry. This is a slow and tedious-process and requires draftsmen of the highest skill so that the work is expensive to perform. The work is particularly important in articles having complicated curved surfaces suchI` as are found in automobile body parts, in the fenders, for example. 45 In general, according to the invention disclosed and claimed in the parent application referred to above and the present application, an apparatus is provided which includes a base having a stationary table mounted thereon in which the stationary table may serve as a drafting board. A

en substantially along the line lfl--ll of Fig. 2; 25

vtiltable article supporting member is disposed above the table and is somounted that itmay be tilted to 1 selected compound angles relativev to the table so that an article supported on the support may be readily set at the desired tilted position. Supports for the article support extend above the table and are so constructed and arranged as to provide a three-point support for the article support. One end of the article support is pivotally connected to one of the points so that it may be pivoted relative thereto in cross-planes; and the other end of the article support is slidably mounted upon the other two of the three points. The article support is so mounted that it may be vertically adjusted at the point of pivotal connection and at the points of the slidable connection so that these points may be vertically adjusted independently of each other. In this way, it will be evident that the article support may be tilted to practically any selected compound angle relative to the working table.

Means are provided for attaching an article to the article support, which may be a model, blueprints or the like. Such articles may be attached either to the under or top surfaces of the article support depending upon the use t0 which the apparatus is being put. Assuming that a model is attached to the under-v surface of the article support with the longitudinal center line ofthe model aligned with the longitudinal center line of the article support, it will be seen that the articlerrnay then be set at the desired compound angle relative to the working surface of the stationary table. It is then a relatively simple matter, through the use of the height gauge, illustrated herein, to project points on the model directly to a drawing board supported on the stationary table and to thereby form the working drawings directly. This is a purely mechanical process which dispenses with the prior tedious process requiring the use of descriptive geometry, as mentioned above.

Referringv to the drawing, the height gauge includes a base formed oi a pair of superimposed plate members lill and |62y which are secured together. The plate member ||l| is provided with a plurality of openings |54 therethrough at predetermined spaces within which balls IBB are adapted toA be rotatablyreceived. The opening is of such a size and the plate member i|3| is of such thickness that the ball members fit snugly within the openings but may rotate therein and project slightly below the under surface of plate |j|. The balls may be held in position by peening over the edges of the opening or otherwise forming` the opening to retain the balls, as indicatedrat |88. The plate members |0| and |62 are of such weight as to give the height gauge stability when it is placed on the table, and the balls serve to provide for ease in sliding the gauge over the paper upon which it rests.

The height gauge also includes another base member I I0 which is adapted to rest upon the plate member |92 and be secured thereto. The base il has upstanding sides I I2 which are substantially at right angles to each other and which have formed integral therewith an upstanding scale supporting portion Hll. The portion ||4 is provided with a vertically extending groove ||6 therein and the outer surfaces ||8 are at right angles to each other. The portion H4 is also provided with bevelled edges |26 adjacent the front sides of the groove Il@` for a purpose that will become more apparent from the following description.

A central bracing web |22 is connected to the base H0 and also to the` back surface of the portion ||4 `over a portion of its height in order to brace theconstruction.4

The surfaces I I8 and |2 are accurately formed so that they are truly vertical to the base |0|. Such surfaces cooperate with spring gibs |24 in the form of elongated strips which are adapted to be attached to the surfaces H8 and project beyond the surfaces |20. Such strips may be resiliently attached to the surfaces I8 of portions illl by means of a plurality of vertically spaced screws |26 which are threadably received within threaded openings in the portions ||4 through surfaces HB. These screws also project through aligned openings in the strip members |24; and ccil springsv |28 are disposed between the heads of the screws |26 and resiliently bear against the outer surfaces of strips |24. Spring covers |39 are provided between the head screws and the strip members |24. It will thus be evident that the strips |24 are resiliently urged against the surfaces H8 through the action of springs |28.

Those portions of the strip members |24 which project beyond the surfaces |20 form with the surfaces IEI- oppositely disposed right angled seats which are adapted to slidably mount a vertical scale E32. Thescale |32 issquare in crosssection andghas the upper and bottom edges thereof bevelledl to provide vertically aligned points |34and |36. Thescale |32 may, of course, be positioned so that the points |34 `and |36 are forwardmost, as illustrated in Fig. 2, or the scale may be -reversed so that vthe points are innermost, depending uponthe most convenient position for thepointsto reach a particularpoint on the work. The scale |32 may be slid up and down relative to the base; and in order to facilitate these movements oppositely extending, finger engaging projections |38 are-provided on the scale adjacent the lower end thereof. By grasping one of theseV projections, it will be evident that the scale may be very readily slid up and down.

In the use ofthe structure so far described, the height gauge is positioned on the table and the scale |32|is moved upwardly so that the point |34 contacts exactly, that point on the article which is .tobeiprojected to the paper on ther table. The top surface |40 of portion I|4 may be considered asthe datum plane; and the distancefromthis plane tothe point on the article will be directly indicated on the scale carried on member |32. By taking this reading and then sliding the scale |32 directly downwardly without moving the base, so that the point |36 strikes against the paper on the table, a point corresponding to that of the point on the article will be indicated ony the paper. This may be marked with pencil together `with the scale reading as taken beforevthe scale is moved downwardly.

In order to eliminate .thenecessity of moving the scale |32 downwardly after the pointer |34 is positioned against the article, a plate member or shield |42 has an upstanding portion 44 which is secured to the front of the base plates and |92 so that the plate |42 is flush with the under surface of plate The plate |42 is provided with an aperture |46 therethrough having notches |48 and |50 which correspond to the positionsfthat point |36 would assume when it is lowered, depending uponfwhether it is positioned forwardly or rearwardly, respectively. In using this plate, it is merely necessary to position the scale so that the point |34 is in contact with that point on the article which is to be projected; and such pointmay-be` indicated directly in either notch |48;or |50 and the scale reading penciled in adjacent this mark.

' that when the measuring or scribing attachment i By moving the height gauge in increments along those' portions of the article to lbe projected, it is evident that such projection may be very rapidly and accurately made.

In Figs. 4, 5, n6, and 10, an attachment is ill trated which is adapted to be used to reach over or into portions of the article supported on the tiltable support, for example, when the Work is fastened on the top side of the support, or in laying out in measuring points on irregular surfaces which are inset from a laterally projecting portion of the article. Such attachment includes a split sleeve |60, having a cross-sectional configuration complementary to that of the scale |32, which is adapted to be slid over the upper end of scale |32, and be removably fixed in position by means of a thumb screw |62 which is received within threaded openings in lugs on opposite sides of the split in the sleeve. The sleeve |60 is nxed in position so that the upper edge thereof lies exactly ush with the top of point |34.

A scriber holder |64 is integral with the sleeve |60 and is so positioned that its centerline is exactly at a right angle to the axis of the sleeve |60. The memberv |64 is also positioned so that its centerline is at the top edge of sleeve |60 so |66 is inserted within the member |64 its axis is on the same level as the topv edge above mentioned.

The element |66 has its forward end formed with an oiset surface |60 terminating in a point |10. The surface |68 is at so that this flat surface is at exactly the same level as the point |34, thus permitting direct'reading for vertical adjustment of the scale |32. The surface |68 is also aligned with the centerline of the element |66 so that the point is on the centerline regardless of the turned position of element |66. Element |66 is also provided with a scale as indicated in Fig. 10 so that .the extent of projection of the point |10 may be correctly read from this scale.

The member |64 may also be split and be provided with a thumb screw |16 for the purpose of fixing the element |66 within the sleeve |64.

A lower scale attachment |80 is adapted to be used with the attachment |66 so that a point indicated by the member |66 may be projected directly to the paper through the use of attachment |60. The attachment |80 includes an elongated fiat strip having a scale thereon as indicated in Fig. 9 which is received through apertures in the web portion I I2 and is slidably mounted within a slot |02. The forward end of the element |80 is downwardly and then forwardly offset as indicated at |84 so that the portion |84 lies flush with the under surface of the plate |0|. The forward edge of the projecting portion 84 may be notched, as indicated at |86, so that when the reading is taken of the scale on element |66, f

element |80 may be set in block |82 and the projected point indicated by marking in notch |86. The scale reading may be marked in pencil beside this notch mark.

A thumb screw |88 may be associated with the block |82 and is adapted to releasably engage the tcp surface of bottom scale |80 for the purpose of releasably fixing it in position.

The uses mentioned above are merely illustrative and it will be evident to those skilled inthe art that the present apparatus is capable of a variety of other uses. The uses mentioned above are not to be considered as limiting on the invention disclosed and claimed.

Formal changes may be made inthe specific embodiment of the invention disclosed without departing from the spirit and substance of the invention, the scope of which is commensurate vwith the appended claims.

. points on the ends thereof. Y

4 2. A height gauge comprising a base,` an upstanding support mounted on said base, an elongated scale having the ends thereof bevelled to provide vertically aligned points thereon,`and

lmeans slidably and removably mounting said scale on said support for movement 'therealong, whereby said scale may be positioned so that said points are positioned outwardly or inwardly of said support.

3. A height gauge comprisingv a base, kan up'- standing support mounted on said base,- an elongated scale slidably mounted on said support for movement therealong, said scale having the'upper end thereof bevelled to provide a point, a shield member mounted to said base substantially flush with the under surface thereof, said shield member being provided with an aperture therethrough and formed with a notchwhich is vertically aligned with said point.

4. A height gauge comprising a base, an upstanding support mounted on said base, an elongated scale slidably mounted on said support for movement therealong, 4said scale having the upper end thereof tapered to provide a point thereon, a shield member mountedk to said base lying substantially flush with the under surface thereof, said shield member having an aperture therethrough formed with oppositely disposed notches therein, said notches being respectivelypositoned to be aligned with saidv point depending upon the position of said scale on said support.

5. A height gauge comprising a base, an upstanding support mounted on said base, an elongated scale slidably mounted on said support for movement therealong, an attachment adapted to be removably attached to the upper end of said scale, said attachment including a sleeve adapted to embrace said scale with the upper edge of said sleeve flush with the upper edge of said scale, another sleeve disposed at right angles to said first named sleeve having the center thereof flush with said rst named sleeve, and an elongated indicator member slidably kdisposed within said another sleeve, said member having a point formed on the forward end thereof with said point aligned with the axis of said another sleeve for any rotative position of said member element relative to said another sleeve. v6. A height gauge comprising a base, an upstanding support mounted on said base, an elongated scale slidably mounted on said support for movement therealong, an attachment adapted to be removably attached to the upper end of said scale, said attachment including a sleeve adapted to embrace said scale with the upper edge of said sleeve flush with the upper edge of said scale, another sleeve disposed at right angles to said rst named sleeve having the center thereof flushy with said first named sleeve, and an elongated indicator member slidably disposed within said another sleeve, said member having a point formed on the forward end thereof with said point aligned with the axis of said another sleeve for any rotative position of said member relative tosaidy u, I

another sleevaand another elongated indicator member slidably mounted to saidbase, said last named indicator member having a portion thereof substantially iusli With the under surface of said base with a notch formed in the forward edge thereoi`said last named indicator member being adapted to be slidably positioned to locate said notch in ar position corresponding to the point on said. rst named indicator member.

7. A height gauge comprising a base, an upstanding support mounted on said base, an elongated scale having the ends thereof bevelled to provide vertically aligned points thereon, and resilient means mounted on said support and engaging said elongated scale slidably and removably mounting said scale on said support for frictionalmovement therealong, whereby said scale may be positioned so that said points are positione-d outwardly or inwardly of said support.

8. A height gauge comprising a base, an upstanding support mounted on said base, an elongated scale havingv the ends thereof bevelled to provide -vertically aligned points thereon, projections on said scale forming finger engaging means, and resilient means mounted on said support and engaging said scale slidably and removably mounting said scale on said support for frictional movement` therealong, whereby said scale may be positionedso that said points are positioned outwardly. o1' inwardly of said support.

9. A height gauge comprising' a base, an upstanding'support mounted on said base, an elongated scale slidably mounted on said support for movement therealong, means on the underside of said basefconstructed to receive balls therein so that said balls project slightly below the undersurface of said base, and balls mounted by said means to provide a running mounting for said base.

ADOLPH SPALEK. WILLIAM J. ZRENCHIK. 

